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GLUING OILY WOOD Gluing Oily Wood Many tropical woods—particularly rosewoods— contain oils and resins that can impede glue and prevent a good bond. To ensure that your glue-up is successful, it’s best to clean the joint before applying adhesive. If possible, joint the surface just before assembly (A) or carefully sand the area that will receive glue, using a hard block to avoid rounding over the edges (B). If your joints have been sitting for a while, rub them with a rag dampened with naphtha, a quickly evaporating solvent that will carry off excess oils (C). Once the surface looks dry to the touch, glue it up immediately (D). Don’t dawdle or the oils can rise back to the surface of the joint, and you’ll have to repeat the cleaning procedure. A B C D Gluing and Clamping Wood 243